Save the date: OR Manager Conference celebrates leadership, innovation, community

Editor's Note

What a week it was! The 2025 OR Manager Conference just wrapped up at the Anaheim Convention Center, and perioperative leaders are already talking about what is next. Mark your calendars—the 2026 OR Manager Conference is heading to Savannah, Georgia, at the Savannah Convention Center on October 5–7, 2026. Expect the same energy, cutting-edge education, and that signature mix of learning and laughter that makes this event the can’t-miss gathering for surgical services leaders.

If you left Anaheim buzzing with new ideas, here is your chance to turn those insights into impact. The call for proposals for 2026 is officially open. We are on the lookout for dynamic, real-world presentations that speak directly to the heart of perioperative leadership—staffing wins, innovative tech use, cost-saving workflows, culture-building strategies, and fresh approaches to career development. Whether you are a first-time presenter or a seasoned speaker, this is your moment to share what is working in your OR.

Submissions are welcome across all key themes: leadership, workforce, business and technology, ambulatory surgery, perianesthesia care, and the always-popular “general interest” topics such as safety, infection prevention, and patient experience. If your team’s been tackling challenges or scoring success stories, we want to hear about it. Polish that abstract, grab your co-presenter, and get it in early. The community is hungry for new ideas, and your story could inspire someone’s next big improvement project.

Honoring excellence: 2025 OR Manager Awards

Of course, no conference is complete without celebration. The 2025 OR Manager Awards Ceremony honored incredible leaders who are shaping the future of perioperative care. Here are the winners:

• Ambulatory Nurse Leader of the Year: Kandace Stratton, nurse manager of surgical services and infection preventionist, Shriners Children’s Lexington
• PACU Leader of the Year: Katie Brooks, nurse manager of perioperative services, University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital Highlands
• OR Manager of the Year: Dr Edna Gilliam, assistant vice president, perioperative services & sterile processing, Delaware Valley, Nemours Children’s Hospital

These powerhouses are leading with purpose, compassion, and a healthy dose of grit, each one raising the bar for surgical services everywhere. Big shoutouts to all the finalists who keep the spirit of excellence alive every single day.

And let’s not forget this year’s poster winners, whose operational efficiency, QI/PI, and innovative initiatives wowed the crowd:

• 1st place: “Integrating Trauma-Informed Care in Ambulatory Surgery Centers: Case Studies on Justice-Involved and Homeless Patients” from UT Health Austin Ambulatory Surgery Center, presented by Jessica Hovland and Maddie Gronske
• 2nd place: “Smarter, Faster Resets: Using Automation to Streamline OR Turnover and Improve Throughput” from Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, presented by Priscila Matheus
• 3rd place: “Pathways to Success: Designing a One-Directional Workflow for Endoscopy & Reprocessing” from Riverwood Healthcare, presented by Jaqueline Rinta.

If Anaheim was any clue, the future of perioperative leadership looks bright. So go ahead, submit your proposal for next year, book your ticket for Savannah, and get ready to bring your A-game next fall.